China Achieves Historic First with Maritime Recovery of Long March-10 Rocket Booster

China Marks Milestone in Reusable Rocket Technology

China has successfully completed its first maritime recovery of a Long March-10 carrier rocket booster, marking a significant advancement in the nation's reusable launch vehicle technology. The recovery operation took place on Friday, February 13, 2026, in the South China Sea, following a crucial flight test conducted on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The successful retrieval of the first-stage booster represents a pivotal step for China's ambitious space program, particularly its plans for crewed lunar missions.

Details of the Groundbreaking Test Mission

The maritime recovery followed a low-altitude demonstration and verification flight test of the Long March-10 carrier rocket. This test was conducted in conjunction with a maximum dynamic pressure abort flight test of China's new-generation crewed spacecraft, named Mengzhou, which translates to 'dream vessel'.

The launch originated from the coastal Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province. During the test, the Mengzhou spacecraft successfully executed separation and abort maneuvers upon reaching conditions for an abort at maximum dynamic pressure. Both the rocket's first-stage booster and the spacecraft's return capsule subsequently performed controlled splashdowns within their respective predetermined sea areas.

Significance for Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology

The successful recovery of the Long March-10 booster is a historic achievement for China, as it marks the first time the country has retrieved rocket parts from the ocean. This capability is vital for developing reusable rockets, which aim to significantly reduce launch costs and improve the efficiency of space missions by allowing components to be refurbished and flown again.

The test involved the booster flying back to Earth using its engines and grid fins, executing a gentle splashdown in a designated area. Experts from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) have highlighted that this success is a 'significant step' in mastering reusable rocket technology. Currently, the United States is the only other nation with operational reusable rockets.

Future Implications for China's Space Ambitions

The Long March-10 carrier rocket and the new Mengzhou spacecraft are primarily being developed for China's ambitious crewed lunar missions, with the goal of landing astronauts on the moon before 2030. The Long March-10 is a heavy-lift carrier rocket, designed to transport spacecraft weighing at least 27 tons to an Earth-moon transfer trajectory. A shorter variant of the rocket will also support operations for the Tiangong space station in low-Earth orbit.

The reusable design of the first-stage booster is expected to play a crucial role in making these future missions more sustainable and economically viable.